Vasuma Alley Sessions 2 - YTTLING JAZZ LIVE 27 MAY, 2026

On May 27, Yttling Jazz became the second band to take over the alley for Vasuma Alley Sessions.

And this is not necessarily the kind of jazz that first comes to mind when you hear the word. Yttling Jazz is energetic, raw and unpredictable, moving between full-force passages and quieter, stripped-back moments without ever losing its intensity.

The session opened with Illegal Hit, the lead track from Yttling Jazz's latest album, setting the tone from the first notes. From there, the energy kept building, with the audience drawn further into the performance as the evening unfolded.

Yttling Jazz

Led by Björn Yttling on keyboard, Yttling Jazz brings together some of Sweden's most accomplished jazz musicians.

Their latest album, Illegal Hit, was awarded Jazz Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammis Awards, a fitting recognition for a record that pushes jazz in its own direction while remaining firmly rooted in the musicianship and improvisation at the heart of the genre.

For the Vasuma Alley Session, the band consisted of Björn Yttling on keyboard, Dan Berglund on double bass, Jonas Kullhammar on saxophone and flute, Fredrik Nordström on saxophone, Mattias Ståhl on vibraphone and harmonica, and Fredrik Rundqvist on drums.

Together, they create music rooted in jazz but with little interest in staying within its traditional boundaries. There is groove, energy and attitude, but also room for restraint, improvisation and quieter moments. Each musician has a distinct voice, yet everything remains tightly connected.

THE LIVE SESSION

From the opening moments, Björn Yttling leads the band with more than just the keyboard. Using his entire body, eye contact and a constant flow of gestures, he directs the musicians through shifts in tempo, dynamics and intensity. There is something remarkably immediate about watching the communication happen in real time, giving the performance a sense of honesty and spontaneity.

Around him is a band of exceptional musicians.

Dan Berglund drives the music forward on double bass, moving between heavy, rhythmic playing and more delicate passages. Mattias Ståhl brings another dimension with the vibraphone, creating some of the evening's most sensitive moments before occasionally putting down the mallets and picking up the harmonica.

Jonas Kullhammar and Fredrik Nordström are given plenty of room to stretch out on saxophone, delivering solos that repeatedly pull the audience deeper into the music. Fredrik Rundqvist holds it all together from behind the drums, following every turn and sudden change in direction.

And that is perhaps what makes Yttling Jazz so compelling live. The musicianship is exceptional, but it never feels polished to the point of becoming distant. Things are allowed to happen in the moment. The band listens, reacts and pushes each other forward, while the audience becomes increasingly part of what is happening in front of them.

By the end, the alley is completely with them.

Having Yttling Jazz as the second act of Vasuma Alley Sessions was a privilege. An evening filled with energy, improvisation and world-class musicianship, experienced exactly how we want these sessions to be experienced: up close, in the middle of Gamla Stan, with barely any distance between the musicians and the audience.